Age differences in emotional conflict control: the role of self-relevance

This study examined age-related differences in emotional conflict control using a self-relevance-modulated Stroop task with 35 older and 35 young adults. Results showed no age differences in Stroop interference (proactive control) or self-relevance modulation. However, conflict adaptation (reactive control) diverged significantly: older adults adapted to low self-relevance negative conflicts but not positive ones, whereas young adults showed stronger adaptation to positive conflicts. In high self-relevance conditions, older adults adapted to positive but not negative conflicts, while young adults exhibited greater overall adaptation. Proactive control remained stable across ages, but older adults' reactive control was moderated by self-relevance and valence-enhanced for negative conflicts with low self-relevance and positive conflicts with high self-relevance. These findings suggest aging alters reactive but not proactive control mechanisms, with self-relevance serving as a valence-specific modulator.